Football banquet: Grothe, Selvie are MVPs

USF had its annual football banquet Saturday night at Busch Gardens, and the most memorable part of the ceremonies every year is the video of interviews with the departing seniors, reminiscing about the friendships built over five years at USF and all that they were able to accomplish. It's a great video presentation, with the outstanding musical score from HBO's "Band of Brothers" in the background. Almost a month after the season, this was a proud group of seniors, basically the last ones to span back to USF's days in Conference USA. Lots of awards given out, with some surprising winners, so I'll run them down for you ...

Rookie of the Year: I'd imagine your first thought would be running back Mike Ford, or perhaps redshirt freshman Carlton Mitchell, who emerged as a real playmaker at receiver. The winner, however, is guard Zach Hermann, the redshirt freshman from East Lake who quietly started every game and graded out at over 80 percent for the season. No arguments here. ...

Overachiever Award: This is also a freshman award, given for work ethic in strength and conditioning. Again, the instinct is to go with a big guy like offensive lineman Sampson Genus, but the winner is far less heralded: Mike McGowan, who shifted from tight end to guard this fall. Impressive, in that he was originally tagged as a grayshirt, where he would just be starting classes this month, so it's strong that he's made a good impression in his first semester in the program.

Golden Bull Award: For top scout-team contributor. Aston Samuels was one of two honored last year and he made a nice splash, so it's a promising award. This year's winners? Fullback Mike Padilla and defensive tackle Kenneth Luberice. Padilla won the Green & Gold Pride Award last year.

Scholar-Athlete Award: Again, two honored, and it goes to receiver Marcus Edwards and quarterback Grant Gregory. Both guys are team-first, always say and do the right things. Not surprised at all.

Green & Gold Pride Award: For the walk-on who best represents USF football's work ethic and leadership. Went to long-snapper Eric Setser -- there's a great clip of him running down and recovering a muffed punt 26 yards downfield in the Rutgers game. If I had to pick the next walk-on to earn a scholarship, I think I'd pick Setser, who's had the long-snap job for two seasons and has done well.

Lee Roy Selmon Award: For courage, perseverance and determination. Goes to linebacker Brouce Mompremier, who played so well last season you forgot he was a first-year starter. I'm going to miss Rich Rachel being out on the field as a position coach -- the former cornerbacks coach presented this award and introduced Mompremier as being "from the 305," one of the better lines of the night. Rachel's a Hialeah grad, Mompremier from Miami Edison.

First Teamer Award: Leadership, character, mental toughness, high academic standards. Goes to linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, who was a tackling machine, just as he was at Iowa State last year. Here's a prediction for 2008: McKenzie will break his own school record for tackles in a season, and he'll do it before the bowl game this time around. He wants to be on the field in the nickel package this fall, which means an extra two or three tackles a game, I figure.

Coaches Award: A new award, recognizing a player who makes "a substantive yet unrecognized contribution, a person whose bravery is unknown or unacknowledged." Well-earned by guard Matt Huners, who made a remarkably quick comeback from a major knee injury, tearing three ligaments in his knee in the spring game and making it back six months later. Huners graded out at 86 percent this fall, the highest of any Bulls offensive lineman. As I wrote a few weeks back, the plan is for him to start at guard and slide Ryan Schmidt over to left tackle this spring.

Outstanding Defensive Front Seven Award: One of the biggest applauses of the night was for linebacker Ben Moffitt, who couldn't be at the banquet because he was busy on the winning team at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., where he was credited with two tackles. Dan McCarney said Moffitt was one of the best leaders he's coached in 37 years of college football. That's high praise. Watching Moffitt's interceptions this season, you're reminded of what great hands he has. Some great instinctive catches in those highlights.

Outstanding Offensive Lineman: To hard-working center Jake Griffin, another constant on the line this season. Mike Simmonds had a good line, saying how the inscription on USF's Papajohns.com Bowl rings says 24-7 for the score against East Carolina, but it also reminds them to work hard 24-7. Then again, I imagine the inscription "56-21" would do that pretty well also ...

Outstanding Special Teams Player: If you think about where Delbert Alvarado was two weeks into the season, it makes his year all the more impressive. Consistent on his field goals in the second half of the season, outstanding on punts and even filled in kickoffs when necessary.

Offensive Playmaker of the Year: The coaches vote on all the awards except the MVPs, and they chose quarterback Matt Grothe -- hard to argue with his production, both running and throwing. His highlights included his touchdown pass to Taurus Johnson in the bowl game -- you remember the final score, of course, but there was another amazing play that was textbook Grothe.

Defensive Playmaker of the Year: I sat there wondering how they'd choose between cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams, who both made so many huge plays this season, with safety Nate Allen not far behind. They took the easy route, giving it to both Jenkins and Williams, again, very well-deserved. Williams already looks like an NFL draft pick in a nice suit; Jenkins couldn't make it to the banquet as he prepares for the NFL Combine workouts, but his helmet-flying hit against Cincinnati drew the biggest cheers of the night. They're going to miss those two this fall ...

Offensive MVP: The players vote on this one, and they too chose Grothe. They should put his season highlights on Youtube -- so many great scrambles and throws from early in the season, and that wild 80-yard touchdown run to open the second half against Pittsburgh. He's got his regular old haircut back, by the way, making you wonder if we've seen the last of the Grohawk.

Defensive MVP: Went to defensive end George Selvie. Coaches can't say enough about his work ethic, how it's there every day. I think the single most impressive highlight from this season is the play Selvie made against Central Florida, getting such an amazing jump off the snap that he could hack at the UCF quarterback and force a fumble before he could even get the ball to running back Kevin Smith.

Anyway, that's that. Oh, and receiver Hugh Smith went in the 46th round of the AAFL draft to Team Michigan today. We'll try to get some recruiting updates in Sunday night ...

Comments

[ucfrocks]

Funny that you USF fans love to tote Moffitt as the next coming of Lawrence Tatlor. Moffitt's first choice was UCF, but Coach O'Leary turned him down because of his questionable morals. Selvie was not considered also because of his grades.

[BA]

Funny how you UCF boys are over here being envious of our univerity. One day maybe I'll hire one of you, but then I remember how you hired a football coach who lied on his resume and had to take a job at 3rd tier college like UCF. This puts your entire education in question.

Best of luck w/your UCF degree in life.

[CR]

LOL. man those high SAT scores at work once again. You must have slipped in on some type of special program. Keep drinking the kool aid, i hear sugar is good for you.
That was a good call by Rachel calling out the "305" when you have Streeter,Liget and Baker all part of the "305" attending the banquet.

[Terry Lucas]

Rich Rachael is a class act... The guy reminded me of the Mick from Rocky's I, II, and III. Coach Rachael is one of those guys that will always have a positive impact on a player's life. He is pure energy and fire and has been great for USF.

Congrats Hugh... Team Florida is mainly a bunch of UF rejects as they try to make an All-Gator reject team with a couple of players from the rest of the state's teams. I hope you take one to the house against them...

I did hear Kobel and Maurice are representing the Bulls for Team UF Rejects... I hope they punish some former Gators in practice.

Go Bulls! Gators suck! A 2010 Gator beatdown is coming at the hands of USF!

[Tad]

Hey ucfrocks, shouldn't you be marking out ucf on the orlando sentinal blog page??

[Tom]

Great new here. I'm eagerly awaiting recruiting updates = ).

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I don't know how anyone has the brains to give Delbert Alverado an award for anything. He has been awful all year. He missed two huge kicks at Uconn - he missed two kicks at Rutgers - he missed four kicks at Auburn.

Give me a break Greg. "Consistent at the end of the year."

The guy cost his team a BCS bowl bid in my eyes. The kicks missed at Rutgers and Uconn were total back breakers.

He is a terrible place kicker. You are only as good as when the team really needs you to make a kick...

and my boy Delbert is terrible under the gun.

When it came time to give the special team award they should have said "we don't have a special team player this year to honor, we were awful on special teams.

CJL was awful coaching them.. The players were awful playing on them.

Block field goals, Fake field goals run on us, fake punts run on us, more missed field goals then a JV high school game.

Special teams was just god awful this year.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

How about the 85 yard drive down the field in the Uconn game only to have our boy Delbert miss the 25 yarder.

How about the 19 yarder he missed in the Auburn game.

Or the 39 yarder he missed to open up the Rutgers game

Don't forget about the 35 yarder in the 3rd quarter of the Rutgers game that was blocked.

I think 2007 was the year of the Delbert missed Kick and the Matt Groth pick six.

Ari Hinkelberger will never get over the lossed to Uconn and Cinci.

Just unforgiveable.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Here is a tribute to our "Special Teams Player of the Year."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdlOAbPLNEo&NR=1

[Tad]

Alverado may have had terrible games, but he did connect with a high % of his FG during the second part of the season. Hopefully, he can carry that on to this season.

[Richard Todd]

Nice time there. Outback catered it and food was great. Delbert is a class guy and one outstanding punter incase you forgot the prior year of Rugby kicking. He also made the field goal that got us into OT with Auburn or did you forget that ? Ease up on the UCF guys - they had to hire O'Leary because he already had it on his resume.

[BK]

Jesus Ari..Do you ever have anything positive to say? Are you that depressed? Do you want to talk about it?

Give me a break...the year is over and this was a special night for the players and coaches, but of course, you ALWAYS have something negative to say.

[Dave W]

ucfrocks, I'm not sure who had a better twist-O'the-truth, you or O'Liar.

CR makes a really good point- hopefully that helps us get all of those guys. I want those 3, plus Daniels and one more big lineman (don't care which side).

For defensive playmaker of the year, I'm not sure who had the most big plays- Mike, Nate, Trae, Selvie, and Ben all had several moments. T-Mac had some, but not as many. Just shows how much talent we had.

Delbert was an awesome punter. He had some huge ones, and was great in the Sun Bowl.

Walt Walker was the top O-lineman in my mind. The missed games were our losses. He was integral to the run and pass protection.

I have a 4000 level economics class with T-Mac. Seems like a smart guy and he's asked some very good questions.

[Reality Clearwater]

My awards for the year......

Underappreciated blog commenter of the year-Cee
Best fan of the blog-Ari Hinkelberger
Best newspaper writer- Greg Auman
Best paper writer-Shauna Moffitt
Best Mascot-Rocky
Best Baton Twirler-Kayla
Best Player from Clearwater Central Catholic-Marcus Edwards
Best redshirt-Alton Voss
Best attended game-West Virginia
Best collection of new USF apparel in one stadium-West Virginia
Best bandwagon jump in USF history-After loss to Rutgers
Worst blogger about USF-Brett McMurphy
Worst promotion of year-Subway
Worst coach of year in entire USF coaching lineup- Stan Heath
Best criminal act-Tire Gate
Missing player that would have put team in BCS Bowl-Walt Walker

[Tad]

I thought the worst promotion was Kane"s "if USF has 100 total yards" campaign. They were just trying to get anyone to go there.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

"He also made the kick to get us into overtime with Auburn in case you forgot that."

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!

Maybe I forgot about the kick he made to get us into overtime because I was thinking about the four other kicks he missed that should have prevented overtime.

Maybe I was thinking about the kick he missed to open up the West Va game after Mike Ford rumbled 30 yard on the opening drive.

Maybe I was a little cloudy because I was thinking about the two crucial kicks he missed in the Uconn game.

Maybe things were a bit fuzzy because I was thinking about the two missed and one blocked field goal in the Rutgers game.

Or maybe i am just crazy because I think he is the worst place kicker in the country.

who knows.

[Vanilla Ice]

but, he can rap!

[steve oneal]

I don't even know you and I don't like you Ari! You are the WORST excuse for an ALLEGED fan that I've ever seen. Do you say this stupid crap just to get a reaction? Why don't you join Cee and give us a break from you're negative BS. Screw Ari, GO BULLS!

[AGW]

Out of the Baker, Liguet, and Streeter trio that visited the campus this weekend, who do you think will commit? Also, does USF plan on trying to get McCalebb, Tay Odoms and Marcus Robinson on campus for an official visit as signing day is 2 weeks away still?

[Ari Hinkelberger]

You don't like me because I think Delbert Alvarado sucks.

I can live with that.

You know we went out and signed a kicker this year. So I think my opinion has some decent company.

shalom.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

You know who we need to sign..??

Ray Finkel. Who is Ray Finkel you ask?

Soccer style kicker, graduated from collier high in june 1976, stetson university honors graduate class of 1980, holds 2 ncaa division one records, one for most points in a season and one for distance, former nickname the mule, the first and ever pro athlete to ever come out of collier county, and one hell of a model American.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx3-sxhewlo

[Sanjay]

Tay Odoms already visited.

[G.A.]

Marcus Edwards is from Mayo Lafayette, not CCC.

[Dave W]

How about:
Hit of the year: Jenkins vs. Cincy (I forget the poor soul's name) or T-Mac vs. Slaton? Slaton fumbled the ball, but Jenkins' man lost his helmet.

Catch of the year: Easily Hester at Auburn. Nothing special, but incredibly important.

KR of the year: Jenkins vs. Cincy

Worst non-call of the year: End of Cincy game

Grothe play of the year: The spin-pass in the bowl

RB game of the year: Ben Williams vs. FAU

Selvie play of the year: The one GA mentioned, with the QB looking stunned.

Best opposing player: Stewart

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Did any of you guys see Gayle Guyardo doing the broadcast live from the Gasparilla parade yesterday?

Chick was totally BOMBED!! Couldnt' put two sentences together. So TBO comes out and says she had "the flu."

HA HA HA HA

chick was 5 beers deep doing a live broadcast from Gasparilla and they want to convince Ari Hinkelberger that she had the flu.

If there is one thing a drunk is good at, its id-ing other drunks.

Put the bottle down Gayle.

HA.

[Jack Daniels]

Be nice. Gayle and I go way back. We've had a lot of good times together.

[steve oneal]

Wrong again ,Ari. It has nothing to do with Alvarado. I don't like you because you suck. "You know we went out and signed a kicker this year. So I think my opinion has some decent company." We sign kids every year at various positions to replace graduates or try to upgrade. If we sign a QB, does that mean we are dumping Grothe? I'm not defending Alvarado or any player, just saying because we sign a kid at a position doesn't mean we aren't satisfied with current player at that position. Don't hurt yourself falling off the BB bandwagon, you're probably still healing from the tumble off the FB bandwagon. CONGRATULATIONS to all the award winners at the Football Banquet and to the ENTIRE TEAM! GO BULLS!

[Matt]

Wasn't Ben Moffitt already on USF's roster before O'Liar even sniffed the head coaching job at UCF?

Moffitt was a USF redshirt in 2003. O'Leary didn't even become head coach until 2004. Kind of hard for O'Leary to decline Ben Moffitt's alleged interest when he wasn't even the coach there when Ben signed with USF.

More UCF revisionist history. The way you guys all twist the facts, you and O'Leary are perfect for each other.

[G.A.]

Yes, Matt, you've got the timeline right. And there was zero questioning of Moffitt's character that I'm aware of until this past month.

[Rob]

Go Bulls! Ari sucks! Mike Jenkins first round draft pick!

[Ken]

Don't criticize the Kane's/Subway thing: Sure its a promo, but you go to the game, spend a couple minutes at Kane's, and leave with a card for a sandwich. And you don't have to go every week or anything--save them up.

[steve oneal]

Damn right, Ken! NEVER CRITICIZE FREE FOOD! GO BULLS!

[Mike Lakeland]

Subway Club = heaven

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Did you hear Hooters is doing some P.R. with USF for the upcoming season.

They changed the tempetures on their wings from Hot, Medium and Mild - to Hot, Medium and Delbert Alverado..

How does a Delbert Alverado wing taste?

It has little to no kick.

Bada Bing Bada Boom

HA

[G.A.]

I'm all for free food, don't get me wrong. I just want a tiny, tiny bit of suspense. Requiring 100 yards of total offense to win is insulting to any home team. I'd say it'd be like requiring a run in baseball, but it's really more like requiring a baserunner. "If a Bull gets to first base tonight, you win ..." ... They've NEVER not gotten to 100 yards. It's like 133-for-133. It'd be like having a scratch-off contest, and all you have to do is scratch something off. And you win. And they announce it with excitement!

[steve oneal]

I wish the lotto was so easy! GO BULLS!